Another great read by JD Robb. I love the characters and their interactions. I love the character of Bella. I wish she was in the books more often. I also can’t wait until Mavis has #2. I can usually figure out the perpetrator pretty quickly. This one it was a little more difficult. I felt that there were more suspects. Great Read!!

Passions in Death shows off the type of investigation we haven't had in awhile.

In Death is one of my top favorite series but with 59 books out there, I can admit they aren't all Must Reads.  Nora Roberts is a firm believer in the 'power of three' which means it usually takes three deaths for Lt. Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody to pinpoint the killer. What that usually ends up meaning is that after the first murder we spent several chapters interviewing friends, co-workers and family of the victim to figure out who killed them. But in many stories, spending so much time getting to know the first victim turns out to be a waste of time since sometimes, such as in the last novel, Random in Death, there was nothing connecting the victim to the murderer other than time and place. While it is storytelling, it doesn't do much to solve the crime knowing that "Sally" was beloved by everyone or that her neighbor thought she played her TV too loud. Sometimes I enjoy the storytelling. Sometimes I am just annoyed that none of this  information really matters and want to move on with the real investigation.

So it is nice that in Passions in Death, we have one murder and the investigation is focused on one person.  It then matters what we learn about the deceased.   In Passions in Death, we have Erin Albright and Shauna Hunnicut who are about to get married and were having a bachelorette party at the Down and Dirty with all their friends. Erin has planned a surprise for Shauna, her dream honeymoon in Maui, and when she sneaks into one of the privacy rooms to change into a grass skirt and bring out the surprise tickets, she is attacked from behind and strangled.   Her death is violent and very, very personal.   Erin is a sweet friend and talented artist.  Everyone purports to simply love her and they are so excited that Erin and Shauna have found each other--this perfect couple.  So who hated Erin enough to brutally murder her?

There were several possibilities that Eve and Peabody bounce back and forth between.  Was it an ex-lover of Erin's or maybe Shauna's?  If so, why kill Erin and not Shauna?  Erin has always been gay but most of Shauna's relationships have been with men.  Is this a former male lover who isn't happy about being tossed aside for a woman?

This was a really good investigation because with each possible suspect there was real logic behind why they might have killed Erin and how it was possible for them to have pulled it off.   I found myself ready several times to toss someone into the box and have Eve break them in interrogation, only to have Eve toss out a "or it could have been..." and finding myself agreeing that the new possibility sounded plausible.  Even narrowing it down to the two highest probabilities, we were still bouncing between the guilt of both and it took breaking down one suspect to finally narrow it down to Erin's killer.

While we go through the usual crime scene investigations, time with Morris in the morgue and time with the crime lab and with Feeney and his E-geeks, it all came down to interviewing witnesses and executing search warrants, like a real investigation, to solve this murder.

While Passions in Death won't make my Top 10 Dallas/Peabody investigations, this one really had us guessing who are killer is 'til the bitter end.

As always, I love Susan Erickson's audiobook presentation and whether or not I am reading or listening to these stories, I still hear all the characters in her narration.

Passions in Death was the story of two women out with their loved ones, so they thought, to celebrate their upcoming wedding. They party was at the DND, a location in which they were familiar with, and they were able to let loose and party hard. Someone close to them allowed their jealous, controlling, and manipulative nature to murder one of the women; thus leaving the one they supposedly loved distraught. I started to loose interest in the book when I felt as if I knew who the murder was. The suspense was lacking, and did not keep me on the edge of my seat; This book did not keep me captivated at all.
This is book 59 in the Death series, some of which I have read, and genuinely liked, and captivated. However, this book did not do it for me. I do look forward to reading more of her work.

I haven’t read this series in a while, and it was great to catch up with everyone! It was a satisfying mystery with outstanding narration. It has sucked me back into the series and I will be going back to catch up on what I’ve missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Absolutely riveting! And Susan Ericksen's narration just adds to the enjoyment. In the latest installment of the Eve Dallas series, the lieutenant is called to the scene of a murder at a bachelorette party. And reminiscent of her own bachelorette party, the murder is at the same club and in the same privacy room where she was attacked. The victim was one of the brides and was planning to use the privacy room to change for a surprise for her partner. It is obvious from the scene that the killer is someone she trusted, someone who was assisting her with her surprise. So what does this do for their circle of friends?

One by one, Eve and Peabody work to eliminate suspects and narrow down the field. The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. With the usual cast of characters prominent in her books, Robb spins a tale of mystery and subterfuge that cannot be rivaled. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment!

This was a solid mystery, but at times felt slow to me. Additionally, the story was utterly heartbreaking. The murder at this point in time was malicious and devastating. I felt every tear the surviving bride shed. Nora Roberts is a master at pulling you so deep into the story you feel everything, but it didn't make up for some of the tediousness of the investigation.
I still finished it in one sitting, but wish it had been a little shorter and with more action.

J.D. Robb has contuinued Eve & Roaks story in this slower paced 59th book in this series. We as a reader get a bit of a breather, and get to focus on the storyline as well as some of the other characters that have recently been more on the sideline.

The narration was not 100% for me. It was hard to distinguish the different characters based on the narration and personally the narration got a bit on my nerves - not because of anything done wrong, but the pitch was not my favorite.

All in all still a great "listen" and read!

Unfortunately, I was so disappointed in this book.
I wanted to DNF but thought that things would pick up and get more exciting. That we’d get some sort of twist. But, the ending was incredibly anticlimactic.
There was nothing holding my attention throughout the story. The characters were one dimensional, the story was dragging and nothing happens the entire book.
I liked the narrator but I kept getting pulled out of the book everytime that Peabody talked because she made her sound so nasally and like a nerdy guy.
I think that if we had dual or multiple POV’s instead of just Eve’s that it would’ve elevated the story a lot. But the single POV and single timeline worked against the story.
Overall, I was really disappointed in this book.

Passions In Death is the 59th book, and an excellent addition, in J.D. Robb's "In Death" series.
On a hot summer night Lt. Eve Dallas is called to the Down & Dirty Club where a wild and crazy pre-wedding Girl's Night ends in murder. One of the brides-to-be has been murdered in a private room as she was preparing a surprise for her fiancee.
Witnesses are difficult to come by, as most were partying in the club, but Eve will not stop until she finds the killer who destroyed the dreams of this bride to be.
With each and every "In Death" book I love re-visiting all of the characters that I have come to know and care about.
Always excellent narration by Susan Ericksen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This story was entertaining, especially with the witty banter between the detective and the other characters. The murder mystery part was particularly well-crafted, keeping me engaged and guessing until the very end. Although I suspected the identity of the murderer early on, the suspenseful plot and the author’s clever writing kept me eager to read further to confirm my suspicions.

The penultimate Eve Dallas novel did not disappoint. It's a credit to her writing talents that Nora Roberts (aka JD Robb) has been able to keep this almost 60 book series entertaining and suspenseful all these years! I've been reading about Eve and Roarke and the rest of the gang since I was in highschool and it's going to be bittersweet to say goodbye! While I'm personally not a big fan of the narrative style of Susan Erickson, it is nice that she's been the consistent voice of for the audiobooks! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

When a bride-to-be gets murdered at the bachelorette party it could be anyone, including the guests. The mystery unravels all the twists to find the killer. A great read.

This is book 59 in this series and while I have only read about 10 or so books (scattered of course) I could follow and enjoy this one. I will admit reading them in order does enhance it a bit (for instance there was a cameo in this one from a small player in the last one which I read which was fun), but you can follow the story without that. This mystery did feel smaller in some ways to some that I have read, but it also explored friendship and had Eve doing some introspection on how her cases impacted her with some clear parallels between her and the victim. I enjoyed this one more than the last one I think because it felt deeper, but I do admit it is less action packed. I listened to the audiobook and loved the way the narrator brought everyone to life (except Peabody’s voice, that seemed silly honestly). Eve is called to the same club where she was attacked right before her own wedding to a party of women who had been celebrating two of the women’s impending marriage. But one of the brides has been murdered and Eve is determined to figure out who. I do have to admit this one was easier than most to solve (the only other possible suspect was way too obvious).

I relish the twice a year opportunity to jump back into the world of Dallas and Rourke and this installment of the In Death series did not disappoint. I love that we’re seeing more and more of Eves acceptance of her need and the joy of her marriage. This was my first foray into the audiobook world and once the period of adjustment….maybe 4 chapters….i grew to like it. I think the moderator/reader did a good job with the voices of each character. My initial hesitation was hearing someone else’s interpretation of voices I’ve heard for years in my head.

Passions in Death is the 59th book in the In Death series and this installment was just as riveting as the others.

We are given murder, suspense, mystery, and drama which had me at the edge of my seat throughout the story, as Lieutenant Eve Dallas along with her partner Detective Delia Peabody attempt to solve a murder thereby bringing a criminal to justice.

It's always fascinating to see Eve's investigative skills, seeing how she pieces the clues together and then later on interrogate the suspects. This story was a bit emotional, and while I tried to determine the culprit, I unfortunately came up short.

From book 1, Roarke has always been one of my top BBF and he continues to remain in that position. His unwavering support of Eve both professionally and personally always had me swooning, and here was no exception. Along with Sommerset and Galahad, I loved that we got to meet up with some of the series favorites but i wished they had a bigger role. This was a wonderful read and great addition to the series. I loved it and would definitely recommend it.

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I listened to the audiobook version of this novel which was narrated by Susan Erickson. Her voice was clear and understandable and she did a good job giving the characters different voices. Unfortunately, there were certain times I didn't care for the exasperated voice she gave Eve and a couple of times, Eve sounded like Peabody. However she did bring the story to life and for the most part I did enjoy it.

I don't think this was a bad book. I just don't think it was for me. It was a bit quirkier than I would want in a story about murder. I tend to like darker tales, but I can fully understand the appeal. It is well written and well narrated. Thank you for letting me read this book and best of luck with the release.

Another hit in this long running series. I am always ready for a new In Death book and I am glad there are usually two new ones each year, February and September. Reliable narrator and you just know which character is speaking by her different voices. Interesting storyline, as expected.

🎧Audiobook review 🎧

Passions in Death
An Eve Dallas Novel
by J. D. Robb
Narrated by Susan Ericksen


In Passions in Death by J.D. Robb, the 59th book in the In Death series, Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas faces another gripping case. A pre-wedding party turns deadly when the bride is murdered in a private room, sparking a complex investigation. The story weaves together mystery, suspense, and moments of sentimentality, especially between Eve and her husband, Roarke.
Narrator Susan Ericksen does a fantastic job, bringing each character to life with distinct voices and capturing the urgency of the plot. While her narration took some getting used to, she now feels like the perfect fit for this long-running series. Robb continues to deliver fresh, engaging mysteries even after 59 books. Perfect for fans of police procedurals and mysteries, this audiobook is a must-listen!

Very grateful to @macmillanaudio for my ALC, opinions are my own

A pre wedding party turns into a deadly event for the wedding couple. A bloody discovery is made and
Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her partner, Detective Delia Peabody, arrive to work the scene. Now detectives must investigate everyone of the bride's circle to see who would want to hurt the bride. The narrator, Susan Ericksen and author both kept me engaged till the very end. I also enjoyed the moments with Eve and her husband Roarke as well. I couldn't make up my mind who was behind the murder. It dives into Erin's and Shauna's past. Perfect for lovers of mystery, and police procedural.

For me, this series its the ultimate comfort read (or in this case, listen). There is a familiar cast of characters, the cozy feelings of our main character being known and loved. There is always the gruesome, awful mystery to unpack, but Robb does a great job of really getting you to understand the victim, and really feel for them. The futuristic aspects are fun and consistent book to book. I really enjoyed this story and was engaged throughout! It is a good book, the narrator is good as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.